Described is a method of delivery for cargo or goods from an aerial vehicle (mothership) to a designated ground delivery location via the use of a direct air shipping package. For example, an aerial vehicle may be an airplane or helicopter that remains at altitude with a package stowed for deployment. As the mothership travels in the vicinity of the designated location the package flight control computer (flight controller) calculates a preferred travel trajectory based upon the aerodynamic properties of the package and location relative to the designated delivery location such as a small delivery pad located on a patio of a home. When the mothership transits through a calculated release point the package disengages the mothership. As the package descends it may increase accuracy relative to the designated delivery location by altering aerodynamic properties to maintain the preferred travel trajectory and decreasing landing zone size requirements and increasing precision of delivery. To reduce the impact force at landing the designated delivery location and/or the package may contain a net, airbag, parachute or similar device to provide a suitably soft landing suitable for commercial home delivery.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
2. The tail kit device of claim 1, wherein the adjustment parameters cause an actuation of the at least one control surface configured to one of maintain or modify the flight path of the delivery vehicle or the payload.
3. The tail kit device of claim 1, wherein the tail kit device further includes at least one location sensor configured to provide location information to the flight controller.
5. The tail kit device of claim 1, wherein the flight controller is configured to be programmed with the location information of the designated landing site.
6. The tail kit device of claim 1, wherein the flight controller is further configured to provide information for communication with one or more sensors on an aerial vehicle.
7. The tail kit device of claim 1, wherein the tail kit device is further configured to land one of the delivery vehicle or the payload at the designated landing site.
8. The tail kit device of claim 1, wherein the tail kit device is further configured to transition to a maneuverable flight form by deploying aerodynamic features under control of the flight controller.
9. The tail kit device of claim 8, wherein the tail kit device is further configured to deploy the aerodynamic features based on one of sensed altitude, air speed or attitude of the tail kit device.
10. The tail kit device of claim 1, wherein the tail kit device further is configured to have a substantially vertical trajectory from a time of release along the flight path to a time of landing.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the tail kit device follows a substantially vertical trajectory from a time of release along the flight path to a time of landing.
13. The method of claim 11, further comprising establishing communications between an aerial vehicle and the tail kit device while the tail kit device is travelling along the flight path.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein the flight path of the tail kit device resembles a vertical flight path of a shuttlecock.
15. The method of claim 11, wherein the releasing the tail kit device further comprises releasing the tail kit device without regard for a height of tail kit device above the designated landing site.
16. The method of claim 11, further comprising orienting the tail kit device into an upward disposed position on the payload during the flight path of the tail kit device along the flight path to the designated landing site.
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February 13, 2023
November 26, 2024
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